Walid Regragui led his Morocco facet to the World Cup semi-final earlier than being stopped by France. AP
Doha: Morocco coach Walid Regragui had solely reward for his group’s efforts after their fairytale run on the World Cup led to a 2-0 semi-final defeat to France on Wednesday.
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“We gave our all, that’s an important factor. The boys fought till the final minute,” stated Regragui, whose group shocked Spain and Portugal within the earlier two rounds.
Theo Hernandez put France forward within the fifth minute of the match and Regragui stated that early blow had a big impact on the match.
“If I’ve any regrets about this sport, it will be primarily conceding that purpose rapidly — it gave the French group much more certainty to stay with their strategy,” he stated.
Morocco had progressed by the match in Qatar by profitable video games regardless of usually ceding possession.
It was a unique story on the Al Bayt stadium, the place Regragui’s group loved 51 % possession however have been unable to interrupt by the French defence.
“We stated that in the event that they gave us the ball, we’d take it. We did that however we made too many technical errors within the first half,” stated the Morocco coach.
“Within the second half we have been smarter, we gave away fewer balls and we triggered them issues, creating numerous alternatives however we weren’t decisive in that remaining 30 metres.
“We wished to get a purpose and provides them some doubts. However with their attacking abilities, we knew we may very well be punished at any second and that’s what occurred with the second purpose.”
Regragui needed to cope with plenty of harm considerations. Centre-back Nayef Aguerd withdrew after the warm-up, with Achraf Dari stepping in.
Fellow defender and captain Romain Saiss, who had been a doubt, began however needed to go off within the twenty first minute.
“We misplaced numerous gamers who did their finest. (Noussair) Mazraoui was in poor health however he performed, Saiss too. I’ve nothing to say when the gamers give their most,” Regragui stated.
“We might have scored, however sadly a purpose didn’t come. Could the Moroccans forgive us. We wished to go to the ultimate however… subsequent time, God prepared.”
Regragui, born in France, was proud that his group had made their presence felt on the largest stage.
“We gave the utmost, that’s an important factor,” he stated. “A very powerful factor is to have given a very good picture, to have proven the world that Moroccan soccer exists and that we now have lovely supporters.
“To succeed in the very, very highest degree, to win a World Cup, we nonetheless should work however we aren’t very distant.”
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